What happened
On the evening prior to the accident, temperatures in the aircraft's unheated hangar had dropped to approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Before departure, the pilot pre-heated the engine for roughly 45 minutes. After taxiing and conducting an engine run-up lasting about 20 minutes, the pilot flew for approximately five minutes to another airport to perform a banner pickup.
While operating in the traffic pattern, the pilot applied carburetor heat but turned it off shortly before the pickup in preparation for the climb. After hooking the banner, the pilot increased engine power to 2,500 rpm to begin the climb. The engine experienced a single sputter but continued to climb strongly until reaching approximately 200 feet above the runway. At that altitude, the engine rpm dropped suddenly and the engine sputtered to a stop.
The pilot immediately released the banner and attempted to restart the engine by applying carburetor heat and pumping the throttle. Due to the low altitude, the pilot determined a turn back to the runway was not possible and instead landed the aircraft straight ahead into trees. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the engine and fuel system revealed no mechanical anomalies. Meteorological data indicated that at the time of the accident, the temperature was 16 degrees Fahrenheit and the dewpoint was -2 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning there was no probability of carburetor icing.